Quebecers raised fears about the erosion of their secular society at the first session of a commission that is looking at how immigrants should fit into Quebec.

The hearings, which will be held throughout Quebec over the 12 weeks, are headed by philosopher Charles Taylor and sociologist Gérard Bouchard, the brother of former premier Lucien Bouchard.

More than 150 people packed a hotel meeting room in Gatineau Monday night for the commission's first hearings on cultural accommodation.
(Steve Rukavina/CBC)

It was standing room only Monday night in a hotel ballroom in Gatineau, where about 120 people gathered for the commission's first public forum.

Though the tone was polite, people's comments revealed deep divisions among Quebecers over religion.

Retired teacher Claude Morrisette spoke out against any religious symbols in any kind of public institution.

"No exceptions for kirpans and hijabs and all that stuff," he told CBC News after the hearing. "One thing I'm wondering too, is why in Montreal we have a Jewish hospital?"

Other comments reflected anxiety about Québécois culture and values.

Gérard Bouchard, co-chairman of the Bouchard-Taylor Commission, listens to comments from the public.
(Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

"I want my grandchildren to feel Canadian and Québécois," said Nicole Mailloux. "I am for immigration, but we are at home and when we adopt a country we adopt its way of living."

Retired teacher Rueul Amdur told the commission Quebecers are being hijacked by xenophobic politicians and journalists.

"The idea that we're going to be suspicious of people because they dress differently, or have different religious beliefs, this is just not what I'm about.

"I think it's disgusting."

Taylor was absent from the initial proceedings in Gatineau after failing to fully recover from a broken arm earlier this year.

As part of 30 days of hearings, the commission will first visit outlying towns such as Rouyn-Noranda, Sept-Iles and Saguenay, communities where religious accommodation is a moot point because they are home to only a handful of people from minority groups.

The most interest is expected to be in Montreal and Quebec City, as well as Trois-Rivières, which is close to Hérouxville, a small rural town that stirred controversy earlier in the year by adopting a code of conduct for would-be immigrants.

The commission will hear from individual citizens, groups and institutions as well as experts in Quebec identity, religion, integration of immigrants and cultural communities.

Premier Jean Charest announced the hearings last winter after a lengthy and occasionally bitter public debate about the integration of immigrants into the province.

The controversy has been fuelled by numerous events in the past year, including the question of voting while wearing a face covering and the banning of hijabs from sports competitions.

With files from the Canadian Press